"Let's go get some grindage!"

Simeon and I recently spent a divine long weekend in Chintsa East (or Cintsa, according to some), a small village on the Wild Coast of South Africa, in celebration of our 7th Wedding Anniversary (which is, in fact, today...4 April...Happy Anniversary, my bu - you rOcK!)

On our way from East London Airport to Crawford's Cabins in Chintsa, we spotted three cows, standing on a rock on top of a hill which seemed supremely odd. Of course, we had to stop and see what they were doing.

They appeared to be standing perfectly motionless, staring out across the countryside towards the sea. 

In the moment, a memory of an animated series I watched as a child popped into my head: The Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa. It was as if Marshal Moo Montana and his boys were standing looking out over the land, keeping wary eyes out for Terrorbull and his cronies.

We spent a funtastic weekend in each others' company, chatting; soaking up some rays; swimming in the sea; reading; enjoying the views; walking on the beach; canoeing down a river; playing pool; kite-flying and getting Thai massages (uhmm... ouch!) at the Prana Lodge Spa up the road. And then, all too soon, we were headed back to East London Airport.

Our GPS, loaded with the 'Surfer Dude' voice courtesy of Simeon, told us to: "Hang a left up ahead, open her up and see what's under the hood. Then follow the motor way and chill." 

So we did just that, and ended up at Zhong Hua restaurant, for some pre-flight sushi.

 

Prawn & Avocado California Rolls with Caviar, Salmon Fashion Sandwiches and Prawn Maki.

And so, after a nourishing meal for the body and weekend for the soul, we pulled into the airport parking lot revived. Surfer Dude greeted us warmly with:
"There's no need to thank me, dudes. It's who I am. It's what I do."

"Timber!"

So, it finally happened.
Today, I turned thirty.
The big three-oh.

At the last 5 minutes to midnight of my 29th year, I quite suddenly burst into tears about the fact that I would never again in my life be able to say that I was in my twenties.
Simeon hugged me and let me cry.
And then just as suddenly as the moment came, it passed (a very mini thrisis), as I realised three things:
1) I was ready to leave behind all the things that were crap about my twenties.
2) I was ready to carry with me all the things that were awesome about my twenties.
3) I was ready to rock into my thirties.

My aunt (who is turning 60 this year) also helped put it into perspective the other day at my party when she asked me what I'd like to achieve in my thirtieth year.
I told her I'd get back to her on that.
She laughed and said: "Oh, I'm almost twice your age! If only to be thirty again! The thirties were fantastic. You know so much better who you are. It's great."
I told her I'd hold her to that!

So, since thirty starts with three, I thought I'd tell you about three epic presents I received:

1) My husband surprised me by having my piano (which was still at my parents' house) transported to an antique piano restoration workshop for a full overhaul and tuning, after which it will find its way to our home, where I can once again tinkle those ivories (much to my delight and great excitement)!

2) My mom made me a beautiful memory quilt, sewn with photos from my childhood up to thirty printed onto fabric, while my dad accompanied this with his own beautifully recorded rendition of the Cat Stevens song: Into White. So special!

3) My brother and his wife made me a printed and bound book of photos, starting from my parents as children, spanning my childhood/teens/varsity year, marriage and leading up to the picture you see above, taken on Sunday at my 30th birthday party. Amazing!

Since the theme for my party was simply...have fun...I have decided that I will carry that in my heart as my motto for my thirties (and beyond).

Besides, the point of fun is to HAVE IT!
So let's :-)

Watch your garden grow

A garden you can send in the post ---
it's a PostCarden for your desk!

Such a quirky and novel idea, don't you think? :-)

Virtue

Monday morning.
The day after the fab party for my upcoming 30th.
Breakfast.
Raspberries or Mom's chocolate cake.
The cake won.

Chocolat and Lent

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent. The period in the liturgical year leading up to Easter which is characterised by self-denial in all its forms.

Self-denial is not really my style of late. Sure, I've gone through periods of radical abstinence before: two years as a raw food vegan; a 10-day water fast; a 5-day water fast; a multitude of 3-day water fasts. But this year, none of that seemed to fit right.

So this afternoon, I broke out my copy of Chocolat; as well as the remnants of a slab of Woolworths Organic 70% Dark Chocolate I had stashed in the cupboard; sat down on the couch and indulged.
But isn't this the exact opposite of the spirit of the season of Lent, you say?

Indeed.

Does this make me a sinful heathen?

Not at all. My spirituality remains intact, if not reaffirmed in a new, special way.

However, this year, I'm trying life Vianne Rocher style...Enjoying the sound of the church bells without getting caught up in the doctrine of actually going to church. Seeing chocolate as a perfectly suitable substitute for food on occasion. Setting up shrines to the voluptuous goodness of life and the last of the Summer garden greenery. Relishing the way the Autumn sun lulls rather than scorches, encouraging naps in an unabashed Ode to Autumn a la John Keats.

As the movie ends, so is my stance on this season of Lent...a new awakening and a lightness of spirit...helped along with gorgeous lashings of deep, dark chocolate!

P.S. Both the movie and the book are delicious in their own rights, and cover the topic of decadence versus abstinence during the time of Lent. Sink your teeth into both if you have the chance...you wont regret it!

P.P.S. Here are a few chocolate recipes for you to enjoy, should you be feeling similarly inclined:

• Chocolate cupcakes (gf) @ There can be only Juan

• Chocolate ice-cream (gf) @ Baker's Corner
• Darjeeling + Rose + Honey + Cardamom + Chocolate Tart @ Darjeeling Dreams
• Cream cheese chocolate truffles (gf) @ Dinner & Dreams

The Sushi House

My path to sushi-loving was not straightforward and lined with chopsticks.
When sushi bars with their revolving, treadmill-like belts first came on the scene in South Africa in the late 90s, my brother and his wife tried to indoctrinate me in the ways of raw fish and seaweed, but ultimately failed.

A decade passed, and with it my teens and early twenties. As I grew up, my taste buds did as well.
Asparagus, olives, avocado and many, many types of vegetables once avoided suddenly became delicious to me.
Included in this list: sushi.

Handy tip for picking a "safe" place to eat raw fish? Look at the queues!
Are the locals flocking? Is turn-over good? Then you've got a winner.
(I recall an ex-colleague who phoned into work sick with the trots because she had eaten a quick meal of sushi from her local all-night petrol garage fridge. 'Nuff said!)

Enter The Sushi House in Hamilton, New Zealand.
The variety of sushi to behold there is truly breathtaking. The prices are supremely reasonable. Crumbed items are on their own trays, so zero cross-contamination. The pickled ginger (a favourite of mine) can be loaded up on your plate to your liking. The atmosphere is calm. The decor is soothing and simple. The green tea is free.
Lovely!

Snapshot of life #17

I threw the ball for her to catch.
She looked at me as if I must be joking.

Space Shuttle Docking

The space shuttle docked with the International Space Station

at 21:14 SAST.
You can watch the hatch opening, space station boarding
and other general live goings-on at the
same links as on Thursday, 24 Feb (post below).


If you missed blast-off,
(and you're a bit of a space geek like my hubby and I)
there are some super cool pics available:
here
and
here.

Enjoy!

Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Flight

Thursday, 24 Feb 2011
16:50 EST
23:50 SAST (that's for you, South Africans)

Check out all the action LIVE at
Spaceflight Now
or just press play below :-)

Watch live streaming video from spaceflightnow at livestream.com

Vegetable Minestrone

Before the recipe, a lesson in etymology:
The word minestrone originates from the Latin word minestrare meaning: "That which is served."

You're likely to be familiar with the popular version of minestrone soup, which includes vegetables, beans, meat (and sometimes also noodles). But minestrones range from thick soups with heavily cooked-down vegetables, to lighter broths with vegetable pieces (sometimes with a meat and/or bean base).

Regardless of its modern day ingredients, the style of soup (or zuppa) is reported to have come from Italy, and belongs to the style of cooking called cucina povera (poor kitchen); meaning dishes which have rural or rustic roots. It's a make-do-with-whatever-ingredients-you-have-on-hand kinda soup, and I love it for that!

As a German proverb says:
"It's better to have no spoon than to have no soup."


Ingredients:

• 1 small onion
• 2 large potatoes
• 2 large carrots
• 450g butternut
  
• 10 green beans
• 1/8 tsp garlic flakes
• 2 tsp salt crystals
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (whole)
  
• 8 fresh basil leaves (whole)
  
• 2 small, very mild green chillies (chopped with seeds)
  
• Garnish: fresh basil and chives
• Optional: raw cashew nuts and olive oil
  

Method:

1. Chop all vegetables into small pieces and toss into a medium sized pot.
   
2. Add the salt, garlic flakes and very mild chillies. Also add the fresh rosemary sprigs and 8 basil leaves (whole).
   
3. Pour over just enough boiling water to cover the vegetables and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the two rosemary sprigs, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh basil and chives.
5. If you'd like to enrich the soup, you can drizzle it with olive oil and toss in a palmful of raw cashew nuts.
6. This recipe makes enough for four people.

Buon Appetito!